NHWS
Squore Publisher David AIlan ElectedMaster of the Stationers' Company
A n 3 July 2018, David Allan\r-rl was elected Master of theStationers' Company.
With a background in publishing,printing and book-selling, and a
fear that within the family businessthey might become insular, DavidAllan joined the Stationers'Company in 1987. Thirty-one yearson he is stepping up to be Masterof a Livery Company with anambition to 'use the past to planthe future'.
.David Allan is Chairman ofthe lan Allan Group, a businessfounded by his father to publishrail and other transport titles buta business which has repeatedlydiversified and reinvented itself.Today its publishing side is focusedon Masonic titles and the groupalso includes corporate travel,property and organic seaweedextract. His brother Paul is partof the senior management, a
competent team which allows Davidto commit to a busy year as Master.
'Stationers has proved tobe a really good networkingorganisation. Some of the bestpeople in the content andcommunications world are in itand are happy to provide adviceand chat over problems andopportunities which are common tous all. lt remains a really relevant
organisation with its lectures,talks and round tables and thebroadening of the membershiphas allowed us to address an evenwider range of issues and to learnfrom the entire supply chain. Youget to hear about and understandthe whole process,' he says.
He cares deeply about attractingnew talent into the industries thatthe Company represents. lt is forthat reason that his favourite rolewithin Stationers was as a Trusteeof the Stationers' Foundationwhere, under his chairmanship,the bias changed from donationsof equipment to schools toincreasing the number of bursariesto post-graduate students who areplanning careers in our industriesand, in partnership with Civitas, theintroduction of Saturday schools,which focus on improving literacy.
Outside business and theLivery, David Allan is a man withpassions and this includes a keeninterest in military history (Nelsonand the American Civil War inparticular) and Chelsea FC. Heeven has a room decorated in bluewith the white and yellow trim ofthe club! By his side for many ofthe social events at Stationerswill be his wife Gillian. They havethree grown up children: Marc, anillustrator; Nicholas, who manages
the lan Allan Group's propertycompany: and Victoria, a specialprojects manager.
The Stationers'Company is theCity of London Livery Companyfor the Communications andContent industries. The Company'smission is to be the most effectiveindependent forum in the UKCommunications and Contentindustries, actively contributing tothe strategic development, successand education of these industries.The majority of our memberswork in or supply the paper, print,publishing, packaging, officeproducts, newspaper, broadcastingand online media industries.
70 The Squore. September 2018
